TOILET TANK WASHBASIN
A toilet tank washbasin and faucet system that rests on top of a toilet tank is described by way of example. The faucet dispenses water intended to fill the toilet tank over a drain that leads into the toilet tank. The faucet is useful to a person for washing their hands with the water dispensed from the faucet to advantageously provide a second use of the water before flushing down the toilet. Generally described is a basin that sits atop an open toilet tank. A faucet having a nozzle end is attached to the basin via a keyed member that a) positions the nozzle end over a drain in the basin and b) prevents rotation of the faucet when attached to the basin, the drain leads into the toilet tank. Water is provided to a flexible tube that attaches to a bowl refill tube. The flexible tube extends through the faucet and terminates essentially at the nozzle end.
This application is a non-provisional application which claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/321,299 entitled TOILET TANK WASHBASIN filed Apr. 12, 2016, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/327,547 entitled TOILET TANK WASHBASIN filed Apr. 26, 2016, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to a washbasin and faucet system that rests on top of a toilet tank, the faucet dispenses water intended to fill the toilet tank.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONOur growing world population is straining our planet's natural resources, especially clean fresh water. In some geographical regions, fresh water is scarce. Accordingly, conservation of fresh water is a matter of survival for certain populations. It is to innovations related to addressing conservation of fresh water that the disclosed invention is generally directed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to a washbasin and faucet system that rests on top of a toilet tank, the faucet dispenses water intended to fill the toilet tank over a drain that leads into the toilet tank. The faucet is useful for a person to wash their hands with the water dispensed from the faucet to advantageously provide a second use of the water before flushing down the toilet.
Certain embodiments of the present invention contemplate a toilet tank washbasin comprising: a base; a rim extending from the perimeter of the base, the base and the rim defining a basin, the basin adapted to rest on top of a toilet tank; a drain that leads to the toilet tank; and a faucet possessing a faucet base attachable to the basin, the faucet extending from the faucet base distally to a faucet end, the faucet further possessing a tube extending essentially from the faucet end beyond the faucet base and terminating at a proximal tube end, the tube passing through an accommodating opening in the base, the proximal tube end adapted to attach to a bowl refill tube, the bowl refill tube is a water source to the toilet tank, water provided by the bowl refill tube is directed towards the drain via the faucet end; and the faucet base possessing a key protrusion that mates with a key slot in the base that rigidly positions the faucet end over the drain.
Embodiments of the toilet tank washbasin further contemplate the basin essentially conforms to the top of the toilet tank, the faucet is curved towards the base, that the tube 228 is flexible, that the faucet further possesses a plurality of barbs integrated at the faucet end, or that the barbs possess the ramped portion that is widest closest to the faucet end and terminating with an edge having an angle less than 90 degrees relative to the ramp, or that there is at least one Barb adapted to retain the tube 228 unidirectionally (one direction) in the faucet 202 at essentially at the faucet end 404, or that the faucet further possesses a plurality of rib structures in the faucet to position the tube along the faucet, or that the washbasin possesses a platform extending from the base to accommodate a faucet base, and at the faucet is secured to the faucet base via a threaded nut, or optionally that the faucet further comprises a bite ring adapted to permit the tube to move only in one direction through the bite ring the one direction being towards the faucet end, or that the washbasin itself further comprises an internal lip and an external lip that extend from the basin to prevent the toilet tank base washbasin from sliding off of the top of the toilet tank.
Other embodiments described below contemplate a toilet tank washbasin comprising: a basin that sits atop an open toilet tank; a faucet having a nozzle end, the faucet attached to the basin via a keyed member that a) positions the nozzle end over a drain in the basin and b) prevents rotation of the faucet when attached to the basin, the drain leads into the toilet tank; a flexible tube that attaches to a bowl refill tube, the bowl refill tube is a water source to the toilet tank, the flexible tube extends through the faucet and terminates essentially at the nozzle end; and a means for retaining the flexible tube at the nozzle end.
Embodiments of this toilet tank washbasin further contemplates that the means for retaining the flexible tube at the nozzle end prevents the flexible two from slipping out of the nozzle end, or that the toilet tank washbasin further comprises at least one retaining member that extends on both the outside of the toilet tank preventing the toilet tank washbasin from sliding off the top of the toilet tank, or where in the toilet tank washbasin possesses a periphery that essentially conforms to the top of the toilet tank, or wherein the faucet possesses a plurality of ripped channels that can retain the flexible tube along the inside of the faucet, or the washbasin further comprises a raised platform extending from the basin, the faucet attached to the raised platform.
Yet other embodiments of the present invention described below contemplate a toilet tank washbasin comprising: a basin adapted to sit atop an open toilet tank; a faucet having a nozzle end, the faucet attached to the basin via a keyed member that rotationally locks the faucet nozzle end over a drain in the basin, the drain leading into the toilet tank; a flexible tube adapted to attach to a bowl refill tube, the bowl refill tube is a water source to the toilet tank, the flexible tube extends through the faucet and terminates essentially at the nozzle end; and a means for retaining the flexible tube at the nozzle end. Certain other embodiments contemplate the toilet tank washbasin possessing a periphery that essentially conforms to the top of the toilet tank.
Initially, this disclosure is by way of example only, not by limitation. Thus, although the instrumentalities described herein are for the convenience of explanation, shown and described with respect to exemplary embodiments, it will be appreciated that the principles herein may be applied equally in other types of dual-purpose use water systems.
Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a toilet tank washbasin 200 (
It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with the details of the structure and function of various embodiments of the invention, this disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of structure and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the summary is expressed. For example a faucet constructed from a simple, essentially unitary piece of material having a rotation limiting key can be used in a consistent manner with embodiments of the present invention while still maintaining substantially the same functionality without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Another example can include various mechanisms to secure a flexible tube in the faucet end without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Other embodiments contemplate another three-way coupler connected to the bowl refill tube 104 that diverts water out of the toilet tank 100 for other uses, such as a drip system in a garden, for example. Yet other embodiments envision a filtration system between the retention tube and the faucet, for example.
It will be clear that the present invention is well adapted to attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those inherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments have been described for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes may be made which readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are encompassed in the spirit of the invention disclosed.
Claims
1. A toilet tank washbasin comprising:
- a base;
- a rim extending from the perimeter of said base, said base and said rim defining a basin, said basin adapted to rest on top of a toilet tank;
- a drain that leads to said toilet tank;
- a faucet possessing a faucet base attachable to said basin, said faucet extending from said faucet base distally to a faucet end, said faucet further possessing a tube extending essentially from said faucet end beyond said faucet base and terminating at a proximal tube end, said tube passing through an accommodating opening in said base, said proximal tube end adapted to receive water from a bowl refill tube, said faucet end configured to direct water towards said drain, and said faucet base possessing a key protrusion that mates with a key slot in said base that rigidly positions said faucet end over said drain.
2. The toilet tank washbasin of claim 1 wherein said basin essentially conforms to the top of said toilet tank.
3. The toilet tank washbasin of claim 1 wherein the faucet is curved towards said base.
4. The toilet tank washbasin of claim 1 wherein said tube is flexible.
5. The toilet tank washbasin of claim 4 further possessing a plurality of barbs integrated at said faucet end configured to retain said tube unidirectionally at said faucet end.
6. The toilet tank washbasin of claim 5 wherein each of said barbs possess a ramped portion that is widest closest to said faucet end and terminating with an edge having an angle less than 90 degrees relative to said ramp.
7. The toilet tank washbasin of claim 4 further possessing at least one barb adapted to retain said tube from sliding into said faucet at essentially said faucet end.
8. The toilet tank washbasin of claim 4 further possessing a plurality of ribbed structures in said faucet to position said tube internally along said faucet.
9. The toilet tank washbasin of claim 4 further possessing a platform extending from said washbasin base to accommodate said faucet base.
10. The toilet tank washbasin of claim 1 further comprising a three-way connector possessing a first, second, and third port, said first port attached to said proximal tube end, said second port attached to said bowl refill tube, and said third port adapted to direct said water to a toilet bowl physically linked to said toilet tank.
11. The toilet tank washbasin of claim 4 further comprising a bite ring adapted to permit said tube to move only one direction through said bite ring, said one direction being towards said faucet end.
12. The toilet tank washbasin of claim 1 further comprising an internal lip and an external lip that extends from said base to prevent said toilet tank washbasin from sliding off of the top of said toilet tank.
13. A toilet tank washbasin comprising:
- a basin that sits atop an open toilet tank;
- a faucet having a nozzle end, said faucet attached to said basin via a keyed member that a) positions said nozzle end over a drain in said basin and b) prevents rotation of said faucet when attached to said basin, said drain leads into said toilet tank;
- a flexible tube that attaches to a bowl refill tube, said bowl refill tube is a water source to said toilet tank, said flexible tube extends through said faucet and terminates essentially at said nozzle end; and
- a means for retaining said flexible tube at said nozzle end.
14. The toilet tank washbasin of claim 13 wherein said means for retaining said flexible tube at said nozzle end prevents said flexible tube from slipping only into said faucet via said nozzle end.
15. The toilet tank washbasin of claim 13 further comprising retaining members that extend on both the outside of said toilet tank preventing said toilet tank washbasin from sliding off of the top of said toilet tank.
16. The toilet tank washbasin of claim 13 wherein said faucet possesses a plurality of ribbed channels that retain said flexible tube along the inside of said faucet.
17. The toilet tank washbasin of claim 13 further comprising a three-way connector possessing a first, second, and third port, said first port attached to said proximal tube end, said second port attached to said bowl refill tube, and said third port adapted to direct said water to a toilet bowl physically linked to said toilet tank.
18. The toilet tank washbasin of claim 17 wherein said three-way connector provides said water at a different rate to said first port than said third port.
19. A toilet tank washbasin comprising:
- a basin adapted to sit atop an open toilet tank;
- a faucet having a nozzle end, said faucet attached to said basin via a keyed member that rotationally locks said faucet nozzle end over a drain in said basin, said drain leading into said toilet tank;
- a flexible tube adapted to attach to a bowl refill tube that is arranged to provide water to at least said bowl refill tube, said flexible tube extends through said faucet and terminates essentially at said nozzle end; and
- a means for retaining said flexible tube at said nozzle end.
20. The toilet tank washbasin of claim 19 further comprising a means for delivering said water to said flexible tube and a toilet bowl physically connected to said toilet tank.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 12, 2017
Publication Date: Oct 12, 2017
Patent Grant number: 10227762
Inventors: Culver Winston Van Der Jagt (Louisville, CO), Edward Lafe Altshuler (Erie, CO)
Application Number: 15/485,438